13 August 2013: Lake Water Quality Update

secchi_diskDavid Hodsdon reports that the lake water quality has improved from 2 weeks ago when an algae bloom was rapidly developing. The secchi disk reading at 9.84′ was almost double the last reading and they observed “particulate matter” on and just under the surface which undoubtedly the decaying carcasses of the blue-green algae that were causing the bloom. I’ve updated the Clary Lake Water Monitoring Data page with the data David and Jack collected yesterday.

Speculating wildly, it is likely the cooler weather and slightly lower water temperature that brought about the demise of the cyanobacteria. We’re not out of the woods yet; the most serious blooms we’ve had in recent years have been in late August and September.